RIMUTAKA TUNNEL
CONSTRUCTION MAY TAKE FIVE OR SIX YEARS
(P.A.) WELLINGTON, September 19. Engineers consider that five or six years will be taken in building the Rjmutaka tunnel which, next to the Otira tunnel, will be the longest ever constructed in New Zealand. Preparations are being made to commence work on the access road, which will lead from near Pigeon Bush up the valley of the Lucena creek on the Wairarapa side for two miles, to where the northern portal of the tunnel will be.
It is expected that it will be some months before work is started on the actual tunnelling operations. From 150 to 200 men win be required for the job when it gets properly under way. About 80 experienced tunnellers will be wanted, but it is not considered that there will be any hold-up through lack of trained men. The Rimutaka tunnel will be four miles and three-quarters long, compared with Otira r s five miles and 25 chains, but nowhere near the same lenath of time is expected to be taken with the new tunnel. With less rainfall in the Rimutakas than at Otira, it is thought that water will not present the same problem.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24985, 20 September 1946, Page 5
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200RIMUTAKA TUNNEL Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24985, 20 September 1946, Page 5
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